Never Waste Time Off Again!

Warmer weather, holidays nearing... heres how to max out your free time

- Sharon Walker

Are you looking to embrace that ‘woo-hoo!’ feeling? Nothing lifts our spirits quite like downtime does, and with year-end holidays just around the corner, we’ll help you squeeze every last atom of joy and relaxation out of your free time. By all means binge-watch Netflix, catch up on chores or spend an entire day on social media, but just make sure that’s what you really wanted to do – you don’t want to end off your leave with a big dose of post-holiday blues. 1 PLAY

You might think this is one for the kids, but even grown-ups need to play, and there’s research to prove it. “It helps us manage stress, problem-solve, and be creative,” says psychologist Ellen Bard. “And it’s also a lot of fun.” It might be a while since you’ve done something fun for its own sake. If that’s the case, try thinking back to your childhood and what it was you loved doing then. It could be painting, collecting shells, or walking in nature looking for pretty leaves.

DO IT! You needn’t revisit your childhood passions to be playful. A more grown-up activity could be inventing a cocktail – or even a playful conversation with your partner about who you’d invite to your fantasy dinner party.

2 TICK OFF A MINI GOAL